Buckeye PURIFI 1ET9040BA Amp Review

[Sokel]

We specifically choose the Neutrik spring loaded connectors over the traditional latch ones for a specific reason: in the rare event that the latch fails on an XLR connector, it can be a tedious/non-straightforward task to remove the XLR cable as it can become stuck. Whereas with the spring loaded, if it ever breaks the connector can still be used without issue (the cable doesn't become stuck).

There's another good reason for skipping the latch, and that is having "sensitive" output gear upstream, a blind connection and one can easily short this outputs if latch is of the generous kind.

But generally yes, latch smells pro stuff, if one is used to it...

 

[Sokel]

The connection on the board is IDC, which is made to be used with ribbon cable, I believe. It would be difficult if not impossible to procure a different sort of cable that can mate with an IDC.

Why the IDC connection was chosen for use on the boards is something you'd have to ask whoever designed them.

While I agree that a ribbon cable is not really appropriate for use inside an audio amp like this, the cabling and general assembly are well laid out and we can see from the results that it's a non-issue here. Noise and distortion are below any conceivable audible threshold, even if you're using some obscenely sensitive speakers.

Nord got hell about this ribbon and the mains noise at their review thread, we should see that coming

 

[amper42]

Technically a wonderful amplifier!
Only complain at this price is the housing, I would expect at least a more massive frontplate and a LED that's not only pinned behind a hole.

At this price, I would like a front panel power button and optional "SpeakOn" connector.
A visually appealing front plate would be nice too with the ability to dim LED instead of
throwing a piece of black electrical tape over it.

 

[kyuu]

Nord got hell about this ribbon and the mains noise at their review thread, we should see that coming

Well their cable routing and overall layout was not as thoughtful and I believe it is thought that the excessive power supply noise noted in the testing is likely due to that. The ribbon cabling itself is not Nord's fault, as again this is due to the decisions of the people designing the boards. However, they could have ameliorated the issue with a different layout and/or cable routing.

 

[amirm]

Only complain at this price is the housing, I would expect at least a more massive frontplate and a LED that's not only pinned behind a hole.

At this price, you are lucky you are getting a case at all! A major company building this with a more solid case would charge double the price.

This amp would power speakers that cost 3 to 10 times more. It is not much at all in the context of how it would get used.

 

[kyuu]

At this price, I would like a front panel power button and optional "SpeakOn" connector.
A visually appealing front plate would be nice too with the ability to dim LED instead of
throwing a piece of black electrical tape over it.

If you can find an amp using this Purifi module (and the Micro Audio PSU) at an equivalent or cheaper price, do let us know. I'm rather certain that, as usual, Buckeye is likely the cheapest option for this (barring shipping, tariffs, and conversion rates for those outside the U.S.). We get this same complaint over and over in every review of a Buckeye amp. If you want a different case, there are other assemblers pandering to that want. @Buckeye Amps can speak for himself, but I'm pretty sure he's not interested in making his products more expensive for the sake of aesthetics. That's kind of explicitly against his business model.

 

[amirm]

Nord got hell about this ribbon and the mains noise at their review thread, we should see that coming

The Nord situation was different. There, the power supply was right next to the ribbon cable, creating a ton of noise. Here, the power supply is in a completely different module separated by fair amount of distance. So the problems there don't apply here although you could argue that the switching noise from the amp could also be a concern.

 

[Sokel]

The Nord situation was different. There, the power supply was right next to the ribbon cable, creating a ton of noise. Here, the power supply is in a completely different module separated by fair amount of distance. So the problems there don't apply here although you could argue that the switching noise from the amp could also be a concern.

Agreed, but if the ribbon is indeed the cause, some of its effect can be seen at this amp as well, specially at high gain where it sets the noise by the mains interference.

Edit: there's also a consistent spike at med/high gain around 19kHz which can spoil THD+N, it smells like A/C electrical interference or something.

 

[Power Pop 23]

At this price, I would like a front panel power button and optional "SpeakOn" connector.
A visually appealing front plate would be nice too with the ability to dim LED instead of
throwing a piece of black electrical tape over it.

I appreciate the level of customer engagement Buckeye Amps can offer for the prices they charge.

 

[amirm]

Agreed, but if the ribbon is indeed the cause, some of its effect can be seen at this amp as well, specially at high gain where it sets the noise by the mains interference.

The "cause" in Nord was the power switch cable which coupled the noise into the ribbon cable. Ribbon cable allowed it so you could put some fault at its feat as well but absent that source, it would have been mostly innocent.

 

[delta76]

What is it? I am familiar with a lot of memes but not this one. Give me a name and I will look it up on Know Your Meme.

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/crying-wojak it's
Masked Crying Wojak

 

[Sokel]

Edit: there's also a consistent spike at med/high gain around 19kHz which can spoil THD+N, it smells like A/C electrical interference or something.

I can short of replicate that by plugging my gear at shared outlet and put the A/C on and off:



AC On


No AC

(splitting hairs, I know )

 

[Docmoggy]

How does this amps performance compare to a Benchmark ABH2? I mean, you could buy two of these monoblocs and still get change from what it would cost to buy one ABH2!

 

[kyuu]

How does this amps performance compare to a Benchmark ABH2? I mean, you could buy two of these monoblocs and still get change from what it would cost to buy one ABH2!

Easy to see by looking up the review of it and looking side by side. Both are audibly faultless. This Purifi build is equal or slightly better in most respects than the AHB2, and has significantly more power. The only place the Benchmark really "wins" is it does have lower distortion at higher frequencies (10kHz and 15kHz), but given the distortion products at those frequencies are out of the audible band (and are still quite low in any case) it's more an academic concern.

TLDR: Both are essentially technically faultless. Get two of these for more power and less financial outlay. Get the Benchmark for a pretty case or if you just can't stand the thought of class D amplification sullying your hi-fi.

 

[Docmoggy]

Easy to see by looking up the review of it and looking side by side. Both are audibly faultless. This Purifi build is equal or slightly better in most respects than the AHB2, and has significantly more power. The only place the Benchmark really "wins" is it does have lower distortion at higher frequencies (10kHz and 15kHz), but given the distortion products at those frequencies are out of the audible band (and are still quite low in any case) it's more an academic concern.

TLDR: Both are essentially technically faultless. Get two of these for more power and less financial outlay. Get the Benchmark for a pretty case or if you just can't stand the thought of class D amplification sullying your hi-fi.

I’ve got ABH2s but the power is significantly lower than these. I’m not bothered about class! thanks for your reply.

 

[kyuu]

I’ve got ABH2s but the power is significantly lower than these. I’m not bothered about class! thanks for your reply.

The part about class was me being snarky.

 

[Mnyb]

is there any European mfg that uses the "Micro Audio PSU" it's seems to be the way to fully utilize the 1ET9040BA module fully ?

 

[Matias]

distortion at higher frequencies (10kHz and 15kHz), but given the distortion products at those frequencies are out of the audible band (and are still quite low in any case) it's more an academic concern.

IMO "academic" is to understand that these out of band distortions are inaudible, and design the feedback loop based on this knowledge.

 

[totti1965]

The Nord situation was different. There, the power supply was right next to the ribbon cable, creating a ton of noise. Here, the power supply is in a completely different module separated by fair amount of distance. So the problems there don't apply here although you could argue that the switching noise from the amp could also be a concern.

It would be nice to see a switching response, like you did with the Hypex Nilai 500 in Februar 2023 - just to see how things have developed since.

So cool, that we are now seeing again tests of really great stuff! The last six months or so I’ve got the feeling that more and more members just annoying you by sending in their „kind of not in use anymore“ Electronic- or Mini-Speaker garbage. Thank you for the untiringly work you do!

 

[Mort]

Only complain at this price is the housing, I would expect at least a more massive frontplate and a LED that's not only pinned behind a hole.

So you think a better looking design would be the same price?

Y'all realize your coveted good looking amp would cost more, perhaps a lot more?